NDSU researcher to head $4M study seeking better beans

Jim Kelly, a professor of crop and soil sciences at Michigan State University, is part of a national team looking for ways to improve the economic and nutritional value of the common bean. The team is using a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (AP Photo/Michigan State University)

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University is part of a $4 million, four-year federal study to improve the nutrition and economic value of the common bean.

Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station researcher Jim Kelly is participating in the study, backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The project involves 26 researchers from 16 U.S. institutions. North Dakota State University’s Phillip McClean heads the project.

The research seeks to develop breeder-friendly genomic research tools to select for traits such as yield, plant shape, processing quality, drought tolerance, disease resistance and nutrition.